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What exactly is 'Big Data'?

Simply put, the phrase refers to the tools, processes and procedures allowing an organization to create, manipulate and manage very large data sets and store facilities.

Why has 'Big Data' become such a phenomenon?

Consider the fact that 90% of the world's total data has been created just within the past two years, says IBM, and platforms are needed to keep up with the daily explosion of data created from mobile devices, online transactions, sensors and social networks.

As the data pours in, many companies are investing in 'Big Data' big time from HP to EMC to IBM, while companies like Xignite, Platfora and Opera Solutions have recently raised millions to support innovations around Big Data applications. Not to mention that companies like Twitter are hiring a multitude of specialists from engineers to sales executives to business associates.

According to a recent McKinsey report the demand for 'Big Data' talent could soon outstrip supply by 50 to 60 percent, and companies in the U.S. will be looking to hire an additional 1.5 million managers and analysts with a sharp understanding of how big data can be applied.

So as the demand for employees who can support, manage and analyze 'Big Data' is on the rise and companies are looking to hire, which companies hiring for 'Big Data' today rate highest among employees?

Top 10 Highest Rated Companies Hiring For 'Big Data':

Glassdoor, a jobs and career community, turned to its vast database of active job listings and employee company reviews to find out which companies currently hiring for 'Big Data' are rated highest by their own employees.

Glassdoor Report:
Top 10 Highest-Rated Companies Hiring for Big Data

Company

Company rating

The MITRE Corporation

4.0

Satisfied

Google

3.9

OK

Apple

3.8

OK

NetApp

3.8

OK

Qualcomm

3.7

OK

Intuit

3.7

OK

Adobe

3.7

OK

Salesforce

3.6

OK

FactSet

3.6

OK

GE

3.5

OK

Report as of 10/26/2011; Based on a 5-point scale; 5.0 = very satisfied; 1.0 = very dissatisfied

Report based on companies with at least one active job listing featuring "Big Data" in its job title, and/or any keyword including "Big Data," "Machine Learning," "Data Scientist," or "Hadoop" in its job description, as well as at least 100 approved company reviews. Report as of 10/26/11. The report does not include universities or recruitment agencies.

Wondering how other companies hiring for 'Big Data' stack up according to their employees? Below is the full 'Big Data' report card that looks at more than 50 companies, including the ten featured above, hiring to support their 'Big Data' needs and how they rate as an employer.

Report as of 10/26/2011; Based on a 5-point scale; 5.0 = very satisfied; 1.0 = very dissatisfied

Interested in knowing what employees at the top 10 companes have to say about working there? Provided below is a sample of employees sounding off as of late on what's working well and what needs to be improved:

"MITRE has a great work/life balance with respectable co-workers, high standard of education and great pay. If you work in the headquarters locations, there is ample opportunity to find something you're interested in." – MITRE Information Security Engineer (location n/a)

"Management can be clueless or absent at times. It can take a lot longer to get things done than you expect." – Google Software Engineer III (New York, NY)

"The company is innovative, the corporate culture is amazing. You are truly set up for success when you start working there. I have found that management is open and ready to help." – Apple Data Analyst (Elk Grove, CA)

"It is a very demanding environment at Apple. Folks work a lot of hours. Management expects a lot from employees. If you do not like, it is not a right environment for you." – Apple Program Manager (location n/a)

"Excellent products, excellent sales force, consistent corporate earnings performance, outstanding benefits, excellent work-life balance, plenty of opportunity to move into other positions or for career advancement, all in all a great place to work." – NetApp Product Operations Employee (Research Triangle Park, NC)

"Opportunities to work and innovate in a wide-range of technical disciplines. Internal mobility is higher than at most companies, which helps to prevent burnout. Solid benefits and employee profit sharing." – Qualcomm Employee (location n/a)

"Salary tends to be only average for the field positions but the health benefits are good. May have to put in weekends during hard times." – Qualcomm Hardware Engineer (San Diego, CA)

"They have their ways of doing things which can take years to get things done. They think nothing is wrong with their company culture they don't take changes well." – Intuit Implementation Specialist (Cary, NC)

"No work life balance even though they talk about it a lot. You'll be attending meeting at least 80% of your day. Actual work is usually done after the normal work day." – Salesforce Employee (San Francisco, CA)

"Employee morale is falling, attrition is rising, bureaucracy prevents rapid innovation from happening, key talent is getting ready to leave while the company worries more about recruiting than employee development and retention." – FactSet Employee (location n/a)

"In general management is very good. There are a lot of training opportunities within the company for individual contributors. Pay seems ok." – GE Employee (Niskayuna, NY)

"Leadership still focused mostly on short term goals, no matter the industry dynamics. Big promotions are often reserved for employees hired into one of the management training programs out of college." –GE Service Director (location n/a)